What's the current access requirements for Beerburrum State Forest and Glasshouse Mountains NP? I am moving from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and I'm looking for easy to moderate tracks to explore when I get there. Are permits required these days?

Bugong Fire Track between Nowra and Tallowa Dam has been closed recently for re-vegetation due to 4wd and motorbike damage, probably closed for good. My sister and her husband would to take their kids for a camp down there every year.
I never got a chance to drive it

It is little wonder tracks etc are being closed as actions of many 4wders do not endear themselves to authorities.

I was at the day picnic area at Flea Creek in the Brindabella National Park on the weekend and despite a clear sign that vehicles were not to be on the creek side of the bollards there were two vehicles parked in there. The bollards were too close together to get in so these people drove down in Flea Creek to get in there. The result was that they managed to get 10m closer to the water than they would have from the carpark which itself is only 25m from the water.

I thought I would add a bit here. As a group, we, the Wellington Region 4WD Care Group inc are members of Track Care WA and have the full support and backing by them, as well as being endorsed by DPaW (Dept of Parks and Wildlife, formally DEC) and through our treks about the SW of WA we have come across certain tracks that have been blocked by earthmoving equipment. I can understand the frustration felt by 4WDer's as these particular hills are a lot of fun. We have been given permission by Track Care WA to unblock them, as without full co-operation and information sharing between all relevant authorites, these tracks are to remain open. Without the proper authorisation, no track on state or federal land in WA is to be blocked or closed.

Now, coming from a 4WDer's point of view, finding a blocked track is disappointing as we know what the track is like. On that note, knowing what the track is like, it is also encouraging that someone has assessed the condition and difficulty of the track and has closed it in the interest of public safety. The tracks, in this instance, have been closed because (I believe) that they are dangerous, bordering on impossible, during the winter. They are steep, rutted very slippery in the wet. Speaking from personal experience, one of these tracks has had 2 vehicles winched to the top after falling into a rut, which was the only thing that saved them from rolling down the side of the hill. On the same day, one vehicle turned around half way up after seeing the top and decided not to proceed. I myself, decided not to even attempt it for safety reasons. (Those of you that know me would probably not even think about doing something that I thought was too risky lol).

These tracks that have been blocked off will be accessible again once it dries out, and no doubt, many will once again be able to do these hill climbs. But during the winter, especially this winter being as wet as it has been down here, I for one am glad to see these particular hills "closed for the winter". In the same area, a "go around" track that was made to access one hill had been blocked and the main track was cleared a bit to make it accessible again. But because it is so wet, the main access off the road, being through a drainage ditch, had become so wet and mushy, previous vehicles had chewed it up so badly that none of our party on the weekend just gone could even make it through the ditch and onto the track. Even twin locked, 37" mud tyre clad vehicles couldn't get through.

Now this issue that I describe is a bit different to permanent closures, but sometimes it is necessary to block access temporarily for the good of all.

All this is in two very popular and well known areas. It is good that someone is keeping an eye on the conditions and making the call to "manage" access to certain tracks in the interest of safety.

I thought that I should post this. Browns Fire trail that runs between Kosciuszko National Park and Bago State Forest has a large tree that was blown down in the last strong winds. Unfortunately my chainsaw was no where near big enough and there is no way around unless you are on a bike. Its about 4km from Buddong Falls near Tumut Hydro plant.

Unfortunately, some of my local tracks have been shut recently.
These tracks being the Guanaba to Mount Tamborine network.
There is a group on facebook who are planning to rally to get these tracks re-opened. Let's get behind them for the benefit of the future generations...

This maybe old news but I kinda just heard that the whole of logan pine forest is now illegal to go 4WD'ing there, mostly privately owned and what not, I have a friend that was going there and said the 4WD diffculty tracks signs been covered with signs to say no 4WD'ing is allowed, area's like Glasshouse in some spots are closed off, logan pine forest pretty much closed off, time for Roothy to stand up for the local 4WD area's around here before worrying about down south in the big smoke, His cause unlock australia is a good cause of course but fighting a Government that wants to make millions upon millions of dollars selling the stockton sand to an overseas mining company will be a lost cause, which of course is a sad day when your own Government doesn't care about australia anymore.

Everyday is a good day when I can roll around with my big V8 truck Thunder

The pine forest was never opened to 4WD's. It was not highly patrolled but never legal. The pine forest is private land and is been sold of a long time ago for development. From Plunkett rd to Logan Village will be developed. Jarabilba has been on the books for way over 10 years...
It would be great if they would open a few acres within the forest for leisure!
There are some really great tracks out there.

this is a bullitin sent to 4wd clubs recently by the 4wd association
For those that are not aware, the forestry area in the Glasshouse Mountains area has been sold by the previous government.
This sale has been for a 99 year freehold lease to Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ).
FPQ being a private company now have concerns with people traversing over their private property and their risk management process involves prohibiting the use of the tracks on the private property in the Glasshouse Mountains area by the public.
Discussions between 4WD QLD and FPQ and QPWS are currently underway.
4WD QLD have asked their clubs and associated members to refrain from driving on tracks in the Glasshouse Mountains area as this may have a negative impact on these negotiations.
FPQ have advised 4WD QLD that the Glasshouse Mountains tracks are private property and trespassers will be prosecuted.
Additionally covert surveillance cameras have been installed in the area to facilitate.
As more information comes to light it will be distributed to our members.
conflicting reports by some say ongoing access was gauranteed as part of the salehttp://www.derm.qld.gov.au/land/state/q ... -sale.html
On 30 June 2010, the Queensland Government’s plantation timber business was sold, with Forestry Plantations Queensland Pty Limited (FPQ Pty Limited) now owned by Hancock Queensland Plantations Pty Ltd.
The business has been sold through a 99-year plantation licence agreement. The Crown land under the plantations (around 90 per cent of the total land holdings) has not been sold–only the rights to manage plantation timber production on State plantation forest lands. Ownership of the freehold lands previously owned and managed by Forestry Plantations Queensland has now been passed to FPQ Pty Limited.
These Crown land areas are protected under the Forestry Act 1959. Public access for recreational activities such as sight-seeing, bushwalking, horse riding and car rallies will continue as it has in the past.
Public access to State plantation forest lands
Access to these lands, either by regulatory signage or through specific permits, has always been permitted for a range of activities, including recreation, stock grazing and beekeeping. These arrangements continue notwithstanding the sale of the plantation licence to FPQ Pty Limited.
and this link also
a link to a Forest Stewardship Plan (by Forestry Plantaions Qld) on the web. Its dated September last year. Section 4.7.1 og the Plan refers to the rights of users being retained. http://www.fpq.net.au/Links/foreststewa ... an2011.pdf
The section of the document from the above link that affects us is below.
4.7.1 Authorised access / activities
FPQ’s Plantation Licence requires that, where
compatible with broader forest management
objectives, it continues to permit existing legal
uses of the areas covered by the Licence. In
addition to grazing, bee-keeping and occupation
permits, other permitted activities include:
• commercial photography and filming;
• scientific permits to conduct research
projects (including scientific collections); and
• recreational activities (some subject to
permits) including:
o forest driving (2WD, 4WD, motor cycle);
o horse riding (including endurance events);
o competitive car rallies;
o fossicking (restricted to Passchendaele
State Forest near Stanthorpe);
o camping (at designated sites); and
o bush walking and nature appreciation.
Activities are managed under various permits in
accordance with FPQ’s visitor management
guidelines, with suitable conditions applying to
protect the safety of permittees and other
legitimate forest users, the commercial viability
of forest operations and the protection of the
environment. Further information is available on
FPQ’s website
If I find out anymore I will post it up here
cheers
Pete
Kim and Paula ULA Research Team